THE GIFT GUIDE - THE FASHIONISTA

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It can be tough shopping for the woman who has it all! Or even for that person in your life who you know has fabulous taste and you're worried you'll buy something she won't like. Been there!! I've talked about it before but I can't say it enough - less is more! One beautiful and thoughtful gift is always the better way to go. It was so hard making this gift guide because I want everything! I rounded up a mix of high fashion pieces for every price point. Hope you like it and happy shopping:)

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THE GIFT GUIDE - THE HOLIDAY HOSTESS

MY SKINCARE ROUTINE

Lately I've been getting a ton of emails and messages on social media asking about my skincare routine. The most important thing for me has been understanding the type of skin that I have. Growing up (especially in my teens) I suffered from acne and breakouts. In college I actually tried products like Proactive and I found myself managing blackheads and clogged pores on a daily basis. On the flip side my sister's skin? You could not find a pore on her face! She's always suffered from eczema and dry skin though. Genetics! 

In the last couple of years I feel like I finally have a good handle on my skin. I credit most of my success to consistency and using natural or organic products. I started a very basic nightly routine about ten years ago and have been diligent over the years. I first posted about this topic here after I had Harrison. I loved the products I was using but still felt like something was missing. Then I discovered Organachs Farm to Skin in Westport, CT. I've finally found the place I was always looking for - a natural and organic destination for skincare and makeup. Immediately I connected with owner and curator Siobhan McKinley over her passion and love for natural products. She believes, as I do, that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in it. Here are the products I love from Organachs and some of my skincare tips:

• Voya Even Pure Moisturizer - The thing I like most about this moisturizer is you can wear it day and night. I like to keep my routine simple and with this you don't have to have a night cream. In the mornings I use it solo (unless my skin is very dry) and at night after my face oil.  
• May Lindstrom Honey Mud - I've been using this for about a month now and I'm HOOKED! I use it as a cleanser during the week as well as a mask once a week. It is purifying, smells amazing, and consistency is something you would want to eat!
• Ursa Major Deodorant - I'm constantly on the hunt for a natural deodorant and this one works! No aluminum or harsh metals and it smells really fresh.

Be Diligent at Night: Remove your Makeup! You're exhausted, its been a long day at work or with the kids and the last thing you want to spend time on is washing, toning, and applying a face oil or night cream. But I PROMISE! You will thank yourself in the morning!

Get Oily: I'm an oil addict. Applying oil to your oily t-zone may seem counterintuitive but actually if you are cleansing and exfoliating your skin properly, oils can clarify and offer your skin many nutrients its needs. I LOVE this one. My favorite part about using natural oils? They smell AMAZING and many have the added benefit of aromatherapy. 

Find the Right Moisturizer: Not all moisturizers are created equal. Most brands make a light and a heavier formula depending on the time of year and skin type. Listen to your skin - you may need to go a little lighter in the summer. During the winter, even with an oily t zone, I layer an oil and a moisturizer.

Facials: For me facials are a luxury. Of course it would be great to have one weekly but for most thats not realistic. BUT, I do think there are real benefits to a monthly one. If you're local and interested in a natural and organic experience, Organachs is the ultimate destination. Last month I had the VOYA anti aging restorative facial. During it, hand harvested seaweed from Ireland was placed on my face over a seaweed mask. The leaves detoxify, hydrate, and firm the skin while also helping to stimulate collagen production. I left feeling rehydrated and my skin looked amazing! This facial is definitely on my wish list this Christmas!

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IVORY SWEATERS

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It's no secret that I'm a neutrals girl tried and true. Of course I can appreciate a beautiful bold print or a dark floral but a light and monochromatic outfit always makes my heart skip a beat. It makes it so much easier to get dressed in the morning when everything matches. It becomes all about textures.... Like this sweater paired with a silk or lace pant for holiday. I just recently wore this sweater to a holiday party (also have it in gray) with a silk skirt and these flats. The bows make it festive but not so much so that you can't wear it after January. 

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THE GIFT GUIDE - WANDERLUST

So excited to share my first gift guide with you guys! I'm a firm believer in "less is more" when it comes to gift-giving. I believe that thought does count and whether you're going to splurge on a gift or looking for something small, it shows when you've put in that extra effort. One of my favorite brands to shop gifts no matter what the occasion is Cuyana. They have a wide range of price points and the quality of their goods is incredible. Frank bought me this travel case last year for Christmas and I use it ALL the time!

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CASUAL HOLIDAY LOOK

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I went to a casual girls night out at a friend's house last week and wore this outfit. I can't tell you how comfortable it was and at the same time I felt dressed up and festive. When I buy "holiday outfits" its nice to know that I can wear them again and that's definitely an added bonus with this look. These pants would be so pretty with a tucked white tee in the Spring!

Fun Fact: Shooting outfits for the blog is NOT an exact science! With my full time job and two kids its actually quite the contrary. It becomes even trickier in the winter when the sun goes down at 4:30! Long story short the plan was to shoot this look at my house but as I drove home and the sun began to set, I ended up taking a detour and met my photographer in town where she was already shooting. The only problem was I forgot my shoes! Lucky for me Lindsay Madden is pretty stylish behind the lens and she so kindly let me borrow these! Thanks Linds:)

And last but not least...how cute is my hat? Its from one of my favorite local shops, Kirby & Company. If you're local to Fairfield/Westchester county its a MUST see. They have the cutest cafe in the back that serves the most delicious macarons and a chocolate cookie that will blow your mind! Or you can head to their online shop. If you want to shop my hat CLICK HERE it comes in 4 colors and is $38:)

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OUR WEDDING

BLACK FRIDAY

It's here!! I like Black Friday and I LOVE cyber Monday. I don't know why, maybe its the idea of sitting in your pajamas all day, coffee in hand, shopping for deals? (not that I've ever done that - I'm always at work ordering via my cell phone) I think its because I've always loved the hunt. 

HAPPY SHOPPING

PS: need help finding the perfect gift for your sister's mother-in-law? Or your best friend who has it all? I'm here for you!

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NET-A-PORTER

I did a huge round up on the Net sale HERE. Sizes are selling out fast but I love this sweater. Just ordered this bra in black and pink (dying to try this pretty trend under a silk blouse). This scarf is such a pretty color and would also make the perfect gift. I know this sweater is a basic but its just SO good. My favorite jeans are 30% off!

J.Crew

This sale is so GREAT! 40% off full price and they have an amazing selection of Men's and Children's this year. LOVE this sweater. Its the perfect twist on the classic fireman style. I have these jeans and they fit so well and this color goes so well with all my gray and blush peeves for Fall/Winter. These boots are great if you're looking for a winter style. This coat in grey is !!!!! They make it every year and it still remains a classic. 

Club Monaco

Buy more, save more up to 35%! You can see my full Club Monaco sale post HERE. Their tiered sale is site wide also and such a great opportunity to pick up classic and holiday pieces for yourself and gifts. This face mist smells so good. I gave this to all the women in my family last year. If you like wearing ballet flats this pair is so comfortable. I've posted about this sweater a few times already but it really is so pretty!

Serena & Lily

WHOOP WHOOP 20% off site wide! Hands down one of my favorite home websites. We have bath towels and linens from S&L and love them. They have the best baskets for storage or laundry - so pretty you don't want to hide them. Like these also for the boys room. Tassel? Sold! 

Anthropologie

30% OFF SITEWIDE! I think I wore at least one piece from Anthro every day over the summer. They've been around for a while but I feel like a re-discovered them last year. Such a great destination for you and for gifts. Love the sleeve on this sweater and with the sale its less than $75! I love their jewelry. These earrings are so pretty and I think I'm going to order these for Christmas! Under $40. 

MANGO

30% OFF SITEWIDE! If you follow my LUST LISTS you know I'm a big fan of high/low dressing. Mango makes it all possible! I view them as a step above Zara and so far I've had a 100% success rate from everything I've ordered. Here is a look at what's in my shopping cart right now: This coat and this one. This shirt for under $20!! I actually ordered this sweater last week - stay tuned! 

One Kings Lane

20% OFF SITEWIDE! This is a GOOD sale! Did I mention free shipping on orders over $100? Yup! Our living room is basically all OKL. I've been pleasantly surprised every time I order from them with the quality and service. Just ordered this wreath for our back door. Love this mirror. We have this hide layered on top of a wool sisal and I still enjoy it every day. Its the perfect neutral combination. How fun is this throw? Gray pom poms of course!

Intermix

$50 OFF every $250 you spend! This sweater is so pretty. I like that its nautical pretty but has a little edge at the same time. Love this top for date night!!! If you're looking for an evening dress this one is beautiful and $100 OFF:) Check out this pretty blush tulle skirt!

Moda Operandi

Extra 30% OFF SALE! I love Oscar de la Renta earrings and these are so pretty in black. Love these bow wedges and the color is perfect!

Saks Fifth Avenue

$75 gift card with your $100 purchase! They're having their designer sale right now and its up to 40% off designer product! 

CLUB MONACO EARLY ACCESS SALE

I love the Club Monaco collection this year. Somehow they always manage to balance classic and trendy and create pieces that I love year over year. This sweater is the perfect example! Early access starts today so don't miss out! This year they're doing a tiered buy more say more with code SHOPFRIDAY. Did I mention my sweater also comes in ivory?

25% off $150+

30% off $250+

35% off $400+ 

• Love this sweater because its a great basic but the sleeve gives it a nice edge. You can dress it down with a pair of skinny jeans or up tucked into the right skirt or a leather pant. This one has the same vibe.
• There is nothing more classic than a camel trench coat. This one is a wool blend and has a great neckline. Love the buttons!
• These earrings go with everything and are perfect for the holidays. The price is amazing for under $40 
• One of the prettiest SPLURGE sweaters of the season! I guarantee you will be happy when you pull this out of your closet next year
• I have these in gray suede and they are so comfortable. Its my 3rd year wearing them and 

SHOPBOP SALE

I wasn't exaggerating when I said it was going to be a week of sales! I find shopbop one of the easiest sites to shop. They have great categories where they break down different looks and trends and they make it super easy to store your info and checkout (not sure my husband loves that feature-hehe). Also returns are done very quickly and are FREE! I've rounded up some of my favorites from the sale and here are a few other great buys:

• These earrings are the perfect gift and are a STEAL at $70. Also love these and they're under $40!!
• If you get one thing this week,  this sweater is IT. It's the steal of the season at $70 and goes with everything (especially tucked into high-wasted jeans). Also love the sleeve if you want to wear a vest. 
• If you like the mule trend but haven't purchased a pair yet, this one is so pretty. Especially love that the color will take you into Spring!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

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NEW - still in stock!!!

NET-A-PORTER SALE

Hi friends! Today was the first day of one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year! It can be really overwhelming to sift through multiple websites and each category....and I know the "fomo" feeling that you can get if you don't hit each one. I'll be posting shopping and gift guides for the next five weeks to help alleviate some of your shopping stress! One of my favorite sites broke sale early today and its GOOD! I've rounded up some of my favorites below and you can click here for the full assortment. Looking for something special or need help completing a look? Send me a message, I love hearing from you:)

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SHOP THE SALE - UP TO 50% OFF

PRETTY CASUAL

I have been living in these jeans! Lately high wasted is all I want to be in. Maybe its the cropped sweater trend or the fact that I love to do a full or half tuck with my tops...all I know is this pair is so comfortable. LOVE these too. My cardigan is old but I found this similar one and love this one too. When I first saw this blouse from La Vie Rebecca Taylor I immediately thought to myself - you have so many lace neutral tops. BUT this one is a wool gauze blend which I thought made it perfect for the Fall/Winter temperatures (anything to justify another pretty blush blouse!). 

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THANKSGIVING LUST LIST

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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays to style! My go-tos are leather pants or a pair of corduroy jeans paired with a novelty sweater. This year I'm wearing a bordeaux velvet legging with a cashmere sweater in the same color. Such a sucker for a monochromatic look! I've curated some of my favorite pieces blow and don't forget to check out my holiday tablescape post! 

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HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

This has been my most exciting post to write since I launched my blog last January. My hope for The Girl Guide was that it would serve as a creative outlet for myself, but my dream was that it would also lead to collaboration with other brands, bloggers, and fellow female entrepreneurs. This was a dream come true. When I first set out to create a holiday "tablescape" my goal was to partner with and promote local brands and create something that was beautiful and inspirational for my followers. I first pitched the idea to Lindsay Madden, my photographer and the co founder of Miller Madden Events and as they say, the rest was history!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. In our house it's always been about good food and family....and its always CASUAL! I love dressing up for Christmas but its also so nice to hang out in a cozy knit sweater and cords all day. This is the first year I'll be hosting in our home. We moved in about a year and a half ago and I'm looking forward to starting a new tradition (also a little nervous - cooking turkey scares me!).

When we partnered with Juliska for the tablescape, Kristina (the other half of Miller Madden Events) and I visited their showroom in Stamford, CT which also serves as their corporate headquarters. They have an amazing selection but I immediatly gravitated to a more curated "mix and matched" look of neutrals with a pop of gray (I know what you're thinking - gray is not a pop haha). I like that the pieces we chose can be used for every day or for special occasions. How amazing are these feather napkin rings?? I also love these placemats which would work for Christmas! For the florals I worked with one of my favorite new local finds, Stems + Co. Zoe brought my vision to LIFE with a magnolia and eucalyptus based garland that spanned the length of my table. The colors complimented the other elements on the table perfectly and was somehow seasonal and a touch feminine all at the same time. Scroll down for more pics, to shop my look, and to shop my gorgeous monogrammed linens c/o Monogram Mary!

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I first discovered Halo Home last year while scrolling through Instagram. The combination of gray fringe and a monogram? It was love at first sight! When my friend Brooke, owner and founder of Monogram Mary said she could order and monogram them for me I was so excited! They also fun cocktail napkins which make the best hostess gifts and I love these extra large Christmas stockings which I'm thinking of ordering. 

DETAILS

Tabletop & Barware Juliska // Photography Lindsay Madden // Styling Miller Madden Events 

Florals Stems + Co // Monogramming & Linens Monogrammary // Calligraphy Harper Ink Calligraphy

FALL FLORAL

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I was never really a hat girl until I bought my first one from Hat Attack a couple of years ago. It was similar to this style and I lived in it last Fall/Winter. If you're looking for something to take you from city to country its perfect! I also love this style.

So when I received this one I was super excited. The pom detail is so chic and I love it styled dressy or thrown on with a pair of jeans and a leather jacket. My jacket is Theory from last year but you can shop the whole (similar) look below! Click here for my necklace:)

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THE FLORAL MAXI

THE CAMEL TRENCH

PLAID SKIRT

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I bought this skirt a couple of months ago when it was about 90 degrees out in September knowing (hoping) the day would come when I could wear it! I saw it and all my plaid filled days at Ralph Lauren came rushing back to me. I wore it for our family Christmas card shoot a couple of weekends ago and to a luncheon...so fun! JCREW is having a site wide sale and everything is 25% off with code GETSHOPPING. See some of my favorite picks below!

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SHOP JCREW 25% OFF

GRAY LUST

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Happy Thursday! I feel like I haven't spoken to you guys in forever! Lots of exciting new projects in my world and I'm still working on balancing it all. I will get there! Thank you all for your support in the meantime:) 

I loved creating this LUST LIST! This sweater was the original inspiration for it and I love the muted weathered tones and the pattern. It reminds me of something you would see in a Swiss chalet - apres ski vibes! If you're looking for a versatile dress love this one and the price is great. For a layered look try a white tailored shirt or wear it as a skirt with this sweater. 

SURPRISE SALE ALERT

• shopbop is having a flash sale and today is the last day! Just ordered this pair of jeans! I have a few pairs from them and they're so comfortable (also they don't get baggy after one wear)
• This leather jacket is so versatile! It comes in three colors and the silhouette is perfect with a t-shirt and jeans or over a dress
• This is the perfect white blouse!!!! AND on sale in the two white colors - the fit is oversized but looks best a little boxy
• If you like a cold shoulder sweater this is for you! Love the cable knit and the color is perfect for Fall/Winter
• Love this coat. Just sent it to a client this morning and thinking I may need it for weekends in the Berkshires! Lastly check out these! I've posted them a couple times but really love the color - cool ivory jeans are so hard to find!

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DUDLEY STEPHENS X THE GIRL GUIDE

dudley stephens

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So many people ask me why I love styling. First and foremost it has always been the people. Over the last 8 years I have met so many amazing clients and friends and had the chance to work with so many inspiring brands. The second part of my answer is the challenge. I love the idea of walking into a new project with no plan - collaborating and creating - and walking away with something beautiful. 

Have you guys heard of Dudley Stephens!? I was so excited when Lauren (Dudley) Stephens asked me to style their line of fleeces for Fall. Lauren started DS with her mom and sister and together they have transformed the way we view this classic fabric. Who knew a fleece tunic could look so good?! What attracted me to DS at first was the wearability with kids. When I first had Luke I was living in a land of spit up and drool and either ruining my cashmere sweaters or opting for old t-shirts. Then I bought my first DS top. It was a combination of a sweater and a sweatshirt, but had a pretty silhouette and neckline so I felt dressed. Not to mention the color was perfect (you know how I love blush). Well, as they say....the rest was history! Now DS is a part of my weekly wardrobe and I'm so happy to share this shoot with all of you!

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If you're looking for the perfect pair of vegan leggings, CLICK HERE!! They're so comfortable and really look and feel like the real thing. Also, kid friendly:)

THE HOOP BAG

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Put a ring on it! (hehe) But no seriously, I've been using this bag nonstop. What attracted me to it at first was its versatility. It comes with a cross body leather strap, chain, and the hoop! I've never seen any handbag that offers that. I'm still carrying a diaper bag with the boys so this is perfect for my phone, keys, credit cards, etc. I don't have a wallet that fits in it but a card case would work perfectly. The hoop bag as its been named has been making its mark this Fall with a number of brands. I like This one for its middle of the road pricing but I also love this one which is just a touch more expensive. Both epitomize the concept of day-to-night dressing!

PS If you're looking for this sweater you're in luck! Found it restocked HERE:)

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NEUTRAL UNDER $200

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